Update at 3pm:

Firefighters have been working hard in tough conditions and have contained the fire.

Crews used beaters, backpack sprayers, an off road vehicle and a drone camera to tackle the fire which covered two hectares.

Relief crews will remain at the scene to continue dampening down hotspots.

Glass bottles were found at the scene and are a reminder of how discarded rubbish can cause fires in dry and hot conditions.

Firefighters are currently at the scene of a warehouse fire on High Road, Epping. 

If you live in the area please close your windows and doors as there is a lot of smoke coming from the fire. If you are driving on the M11 you may see smoke, please slow down and drive carefully. 

It is a warehouse measuring approximately 100m by 30m, consisting of four units. With two units fully alight. 

The cause of the fire has been recorded as deliberate. 

Update 26 June 8am 

Firefighters remained on scene overnight to extinguish the fire and monitor any hotspots. 

Crews will be revisiting the site again this morning.

A fire investigation will be carried out into the cause when it is safe to do so. 

Firefighters are currently at the scene of a fire in a derelict building which was previously used as the Southend United FC training ground. 

Firefighters are giving bonfire safety advice after a bonfire spread to a fence and three sheds in Southend last night. 

Crews from Southend and Leigh were called to a garden fire at 2.50am. 

On arrival crews discovered a bonfire which was left unattended and spread to fence and three sheds. 

Firefighters have extinguished a bonfire which has was left unattended and spread to a field and hedges in Burnham. 

Crews used an off road vehicle and water bowser from Corringham to help extinguish the fire. 

Watch Manager Jon Vincent said: "If you're planning on having a bonfire or burning rubbish, please do not leave it unattended; it could quickly get out of control and spread rapidly.

"Make sure it is well away from houses, garages, sheds, fences, overhead cables, trees and shrubs. These fires are dangerous and are easily preventable."

Firefighters from Basildon and Rayleigh fitted smoke alarms for a number of properties, after a garage fire on London Road, Wickford. 

Crews were called to a garage fire at 1.58pm in Wickford today.

Watch Manager Dave Farrant said: "When the resident discovered the fire in their property, they did the right thing to get out of the house and call 999. 

Crews have urged residents to register their appliances after a washing machine caught fire in Southend.

We were called to a first floor flat in Jones Close yesterday (Tuesday 24 June) at 12.54pm.

As the building is a high rise, five crews, from Southend, Leigh, Shoebury, Rayleigh Weir and Hawkwell, attended.

Watch Manager Marc Kyprianou said: "When the occupant smelt smoke in his kitchen he did the right thing in getting out and calling 999.

Crews extinguished a fire affecting a camper van and containers.

We were called to Creephedge Lane, between East Hanningfield and Woodham Ferrers, today (Tuesday 24 June) at 8.22am, and crews from Chelmsford (two), Maldon and Rayleigh Weir initially attended.

Station Manager John Warmann said: "Crews did a great job of stopping the fire from spreading, removing cylinders to prevent the incident escalating and protecting surrounding risks.